I HAVE CHANGED THE END OF THE PREVIOUS CHAPTER! GO READ IT!

It's me, the writer you are all hating right now! Option 2 won the vote! I'm sorry I haven't updated. I've been super busy getting ready for high school now and shopping and stuff, but I can promise that I'll start updating more often. My surgery went fine and I am healing up quite well. Glad to get rid of my nose brace, though. Wouldn't want to start high school with that, now. Long note at bottom.

Disclaimer: don't own Percy Jackson, but I own Alex and a pair of soft pajama pants that I'm gonna go sleep in now!

I Make A Funny- Or Several

Looking back on it, it was probably the worst mistake of my life. I honestly had no intention of taking that bogus vow. I needed to buy time and this seemed like the way. I was so stupid. It was a lie that I thought I could pull off. I had no idea what I was getting into. If I could change one thing in my life, I would have forgotten about Jason and just ran. I would have fled like the coward I was, not pretend to be a hero. But I saved him.

We all make our mistakes.

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I was still on top of the mountain, and the sun was setting. It felt like I'd been up there for hours. My previous statement about taking the vow had seemed to put Luke into a state of shock, but I didn't really pay attention to him. The chanting had stopped. The monsters surrounding us had mostly dispersed. It seemed to me that the worst of the ritual was over. Luke was staring at me like I was crazy and I grinned, moving to pick up my hand and walk away. "That was a lot less painful then I thought it would be."

Then, Kronos sent what felt like a huge explosion up my arm and into my body. Black spots burst in front of my eyes and I collapsed onto one knee.

I felt like I was dieing. After I had said that sentence about the vow, Kronos seemed to say, "Hey, it's all you can eat at the Alex's Power Buffet!" It was like he was sucking my power through a straw and I couldn't do anything to stop it.. Jerk. No consideration. I staggered a bit and gasped. The sarcophagus was glowing, pulsing, and…whispering? I groaned and leaned heavily on the coffin, trying to stand up. "I swear, if you kill me, I slice you back up and drown you." I muttered, looking at the lid. Kronos's name, which was engraved in ancient Greek, came sharply into focus. My hand shot away from the sarcophagus like it was electrified. Wind picked up and threatened to throw us all off the mountain. I quickly stumbled back, trying to get away from the dais and thrones. Luke followed and shoved me into one of the remaining demigods.

"Get her back to the infirmary!" Luke ordered, shouting over the wind and the roar of Atlas's laughter. As I was dragged away, I blurrily saw Luke open the lid of the coffin a bit, and I heard mad cackling. Then I saw nothing but black.

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I'm going to go on a psychotic rampage for a minute. When I awoke, again, in the infirmary, again, I realized something.

I am a stupid, messed up, rash, temperamental, conniving, irritating liar.

I had said I would join Kronos's army. I had deliberately opened myself up for injuries and manipulation, and it was now my fault that Kronos was…stronger?

I was dumb enough to participate, albeit unwillingly, in some ritual that I had no idea about! I'm a moron!

And I was thinking about it for the three hours while a nymph wrapped and bandaged some of the small cuts I had received while battling on top of the mountain. It took a short while, only about ten minutes. What took her so long was bandaging my left hand. The palm and fingers were scorched and burned. The engravings had been burned into my hand! I would forever have the words 'rise, death, revenge and dismay' burned into my palm. Great day, right? But any way, the thing hurt and I spent two hours sitting on the side of the bed while an impatient girl wrapped gauze around my palm and around each of my fingers tightly.

I spent the remaining hour trying to get someone to bring me a brush and some clothes. The medic complied by bringing me a white T-shirt and a pair of black camouflage pants. I was glad my boots were unharmed. I was still really steamed about not having my jacket anymore. Like I've said before, what is a Daughter of Hades without a good leather jacket. Without one, I might as well be a Daughter of Ares or, gods forbid, Aphrodite or Hephaestus.

Sorry. I get mean when I've been cooped up for long periods of time.

I had spent five, maybe six days on this mountain and half of them had been in this small, stone infirmary. I ran my right hand through my hair, set my chin in it, and thought deeply. All this lying, deceit, and fighting was really driving me crazy. My conscience and loyalty were really being tested. With each new thing I learned or discovered, the gods either stood less of a chance or they seemed like they were undeserving of my loyalty. One thing was quite obvious. The gods didn't stand a chance against Typhon. The question was where my loyalty would lie.

With Percy, of course, and he happened to be siding with the gods. And my dad, too, I suppose…but mostly Percy. Speaking of which…"Hey, Dad. Any help would be great right now. I kinda need to ditch this place." No answer, of course. Never there when I needed him. "Your no help at all."

Then I had a visitor.

"I am having a great day." said Luke as he walked into the small room.

"How nice. Don't let this face fool you. I really care." I answered, not looking away from the wall I was staring at.

"Your sarcasm, while greatly appreciated, is of no use here. I could really hug you right now."

My head shot up and I warily backed away from him, though he made no move toward me. "Ok, that's really off. What happened?"

"Kronos no longer needs me for his plan!" he said. I swear, the boy was almost skipping. It was a bit scary.

"So? When someone doesn't need you anymore, they usually try to kill you." I rolled my eyes as his grin just widened. He motioned for me to stand and two guards entered the room.

"Thanks to you, Kronos no longer needs a host body!"

My jaw dropped. I stared. "A host body? You were going to be his host body?"

"Yup."

"Oh my gods, you are insane! You would've died! Do you have no sense of self preservation at all?"

"Nope."

"So…what now? If he needed a host body, that would mean that he doesn't have a full form yet. How will my power help him get it back?" I asked. I was actually talking to myself, but to my surprise, Luke answered.

"It will take a bit longer than we hoped, but with one more soul joined to our cause-you-Kronos should rise in a form like his own."

"Like his own?" I asked as I exited the room with Luke at my side and the guards behind us. I could tell he didn't fully believe my act, because he did bring guards. "So not his own form. Why the 'like' in there?"

Luke snorted as he led pulled me into a tunnel. Sounds of clanking weapons and hollering echoed through the tunnel. "He won't be able to fully form for some amount of time after. He'll be a bit weak, but not nearly as weak as he would've been before you. Thanks to your power, he'll be twice as powerful."

"Um, great." No, not great. Stupid, stupid, stupid me!

"You'll share some…similarities." Luke said as he turned right into a red brick tunnel. At the end, about three hundred yards away, demigods and monsters dragged weapons and crates to a wall.

"Similarities? As in…?" I asked worried. When Luke said 'similarities,' did he mean like, reading thoughts or attitudes or what? I was wondering where we were going, too. Were they going into a battle or something?

"As in…looks." he muttered. "Hey, empousa, take the first half of the vanguard and breif them on the tunnel system."

"Woah, woah, woah. Looks? Are you saying the Lord of Time will be a girl?" I laughed.

"No, stop acting like you're four. He'll just be…like you for a while."

I snorted quietly and tried to suppress my laughter. This really was the highlight of my day. The Lord of Time, a girl? Probably not. It did put a small smirk on my face, which is really what I needed. "Where is your little army headed?" I asked Luke.

"Back into the Labyrinth. I have prior engagements to receive my prize. Then we attack camp."

"I suppose I can't discourage you from attacking camp and just going to Olympus instead?" I sighed, pausing to watch some Telekhines at a forge. They hissed at me and I grinned back. I guess they heard about me killing their brothers.

"Nope." Luke said as he wound his way through the crowds of monsters. He checked with various demigods and dracaena about preparations for the journey. He seemed…nervous.

I was poked in the back and I remembered that, no matter how free I felt, I was still a prisoner. The celestial bronze cuff around my right wrist reminded me of the fact.

"I suppose I'll just stay here and not stab Atlas."

Luke looked up from a checklist of sorts and furrowed his eyebrows at me. "You really should be nicer to him and me. I'm going to rule a nation someday."

I snorted and rolled my eyes. "I'll try being nicer if you try being smarter." I tossed my hair over my shoulder and turned to the guards. "Go on and take me to that gods-forsaken cell now."

One boy grabbed my arm and started pulling me back down the hall. The other one smacked the back of my head. Hard. I quickly yanked my right arm out of the guards hand and slapped him on the ear. "No grabbing. Hands to yourself. Let's go."

"Alex, your coming into the Labyrinth. You think I'd let you stay here alone?" Luke asked, smirking. "You'd blow up the palace."

"Why in Zeus's name would you take me with you? I could, and might, sabotage everything." I asked. This really shocked me. An enemy taking me on a field trip was unheard of. I didn't get it. What were his motives? Did he think he could scare me with his plans? Did he think he could earn my trust or gratitude by letting me off the mountain? Or did he mean what he said and didn't trust me not to try to escape. "I wouldn't even know what's going on."

Luke motioned for the guards surrounding me to step down. Slinging his arm around my shoulders, we walked to the very end of the tunnel and stared at the mark of Daedalus. I tried not to cringe at the feel of his arm.

"You don't have to know what's going on. Just stand by me and if someone makes a move to attack either of us, kill them." I suppose he meant to be comforting, but it just came off annoying and condescending. Ah, well, such is the way of Luke Castellan.

"What I do best." I muttered. Without another word, I was walked-somewhat more gently- to a room far under the mountain. What was the point of taking me out of the infirmary if we only were out for fifteen minutes! To short! He was just cruel, allowing me fifteen minutes of freedom!

I passed the multiple cells of half-bloods on our way down. We passed the prison and I was taken to a small, white, bare room. It was furnished with a small wooden beside table and a plain cot. A door on the far left wall was opened, revealing a small bathroom. The two guards shut the door behind me after they pushed me in. Before they turned the lock, they informed me that someone would be down with food and some cleaner clothes later tonight. The clothes the nymph had given me, while better than my others, were still dirty and stained. I barely noticed when another nymph, one who also looked sickly and weak, entered my room. She set down a plate of food on the bedside table and sat on the bed, motioning for me to sit next to her. "I must re-bandage you hand, miss. The Master wishes it to heal quickly."

"The Master. Kronos?" I asked, staring longingly at the food.

"No, Master Castellan. He has orders directly from Lord Kronos. Miss, please. I must do this, else I will be punished."

"Ok, ok. I get it." I sat on the thin mattress and stuck out my left hand. She quickly unwrapped my hand. I winced when I saw the burned flesh and almost cried out when she started cleaning it. "So…" I said to get my attention away from my hand. "Do you know how long I've been here?"

"Six days." she muttered.

"Oh. That sucks. Ummm, how long have you been here?" It was two seconds into the conversation and I was already running out of things to say.

Grabbing some new gauze and starting to wrap it around my wrist and palm, she answered me. "Three years. I have tried to escape and return to my river, but I cannot."

"Oh. That sucks, too." I stared at the food until she had finished wrapping my last finger. Tucking in the end of the bandage, she stood.

"You will find several herbs and nectar with your food. Eat it all and the curse will not affect you as much."

I stood. "Curse?"

"A minimal side effect. It simply is effecting your sense of time. Today, you were out of your cell for about five hours, with Luke. To you, it would feel like mere minutes."

"And when I heal? Will it effect me?"

"Most likely, no. Your uniform is on the bed, as are your personal items. Someone shall retrieve you tomorrow. Goodnight." She left.

I looked at the pile on the bed. A small black bag sat next to it, but I would look at that later. I picked apart the pile of clothes. A black shirt. Green army pants. Black combat boots. A regulation bronze breastplate was piled on top and next it, sat my two rings! My swords! I slipped both of them on my right hand and turned to my food. On the large plate were several pieces of chicken and some unidentifiable vegetables. A roll and some berries made the meal. It looked delicious, especially to a girl who hadn't eaten in days. The nectar and herbs were each in a different goblet, and I quickly downed both of them. I so did not want to be cursed forever.

The chicken was good. The meal was hot and filling, but it was over far to soon. Wiping my mouth on my dirty sleeve, I turned back to the bed. I moved my clothes for tomorrow and opened the small bag, smiling when I saw what was in it. A toothbrush and toothpaste, a brush, and other necessities. I was mainly focused on the small mirror! Then I saw my face in it. Dark circles were under my eyes, a small cut had been taped up on my left cheek, my hair was lank and dirty, I was sickeningly pale: I looked like the walking dead. Grabbing the brush and other toiletries, I entered a small bathroom. I took a shower, brushed my hair, and-for the first time in weeks, I laid down in the bed. I thought about the events of the day, and the small spark of happiness I had felt about the food, clothes, and bed was extinguished. It was all my fault. I had almost ruined any chance we had at winning the war. What would Percy say when he found out. What would my dad say? I cringed at the thought of the gods finding out. They probably already knew. I was gonna be in so much trouble.

Stupid Luke. Stupid Kronos. Stupid heroism and loyalty to save Jason.

Stupid me.

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I actually had a somewhat pleasant dream. At least, it gave me some good news. Percy was alive. I dreamed that Percy was in a cave. Crystals glowed and gave off bright light. In the far corner of the cave, a fire was crackling and boiling a large pot of soup. Even in the dream, it smelled heavenly. Then in walked the not-so-good-part of my dream.

A beautiful girl grabbed a spoon and stirred the soup. I knew where he was, and I really didn't like it. Not that I was threatened or anything. Anyone could look the way Calypso did. I could wake up like that, if I really wanted to, and if Silena put a good day's work on my hair. But this wasn't a good sign. Poor Percy wouldn't know what hit him when he woke up; anyone who could cook, garden, and fix wounds could attract Percy. I couldn't do any of those things, and I could attract Percy. Stupid Calypso and her stupid island and her stupid skills.

So needless to say, I was scared Percy would a) fall in love with Calypso and b) stay on her island.

With my self confidence shattered, my dream moved to a dark tunnel of dirt. Running down the tunnel, shouting and yelling, were Grover and Tyson. I was relieved that they were alive-I was a bit guilty that I hadn't thought or worried about them. They looked relatively well. The two were bumped and scraped, but they weren't limping or anything. Tyson was dragging Grover behind him as the tunnel shook and rolled. Dirt and rocks fell from the ceiling and, far behind them, I noticed what monster was chasing them. A giant snake had cornered them and right as it neared them, the tunnel collapsed.

"Grover! Tyson!" I shouted, but they were gone. I had shot up in bed and was clutching my ears, trying to escape a horrible screeching noise. It was a long, piercing, wailing scream and it would not stop. I tried to shout over the noise, but it was impossible; with my hands still clasped around my ears, I walked over to the door. Other demigods exited their rooms, and several went to find a higher officer to shut up whatever was screaming. With all the strength I could muster, I kicked it open. Out in the hall, a banshee was leaning over my guard, screaming in his face. The guard was obviously dead.

"Hey! Shut up!" I yelled. "I'm trying to sleep!" The ghostly woman wouldn't stop screaming, but she approached me. "Hey, Daughter of Hades here. You're a ghost, you're dead, so listen to me. I don't want you as my alarm clock, ok? Get out of here before I send you to the Underworld. Permanently." She glared at me and stopped wailing. "Thank the gods." I walked back into the room and flopped back on the bed. I glanced over at the door and saw that I had knocked it off it's hinges. Walking over and picking it u, I leaned it against the doorway and went back to sleep.

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"GET UP! I SWEAR TO THE GODS, ALEX, IF YOU DON'T GET UP RIGHT NOW, I'LL MURDER YOU!" Someone screamed at me, waking me up. (At least, I think that was his/ her intention. I didn't quite understand what message he/her was trying to get across.)

"Chiron, isss notmy turn fo ispectyon yettt." I grumbled into my pillow. Chiron hated when I slept all day and then woke him up for food at night. He always made me get up really early.

"That's it." Someone ripped my covers off, but I just rolled over. Who cares about blankets? Anyway, I blearily opened my eyes to see Luke, my doctor-nymph, and three guards in the small cramped room.

"Alex isn't home right now. Leave a message after the beep. Beep." I said, shutting my eyes again and yawning.

"We have to get ready to leave. Get out of that bed now or I'll drag you out."

"I'm nocturnal. Leave me alone."

"You slept for nine hours, it's lunchtime." Luke said, sounding annoyed. I immediately sat up in my bed and looked around the room. The nymph was holding yet another tray of food for me.

"OOOOOOOOHHHH, COFFEE!" I jumped up and ran to the tray, grabbing the Styrofoam cup that held the precious beverage. As I neared the group, the soldiers tensed, but I just rolled my eyes and focused on the delightful drink in my right hand. I chugged half of it down then wiped my mouth. "This is caffeinated, right?" I asked the nymph. She nodded, trying not to smile. "Great." I turned to Luke. "That banshee last night was a more pleasant wake-up call than this. What do you want?"

"We are leaving through the Labyrinth in one hour. Get you uniform on, eat, and then you will be escorted to the tunnel."

"I don't want to." I replied.

A demigod glared at me and started toward me, with his fist raised and a knife drawn. He was gonna attack me, the stupid kid. I threw my only weapon at him. My hot coffee.

"Oh CRAP!" he yelped, jumping up and down as the coffee hit his lap. The rest of the group laughed. "Oops" I smiled, winking at a girl who was doubled over. "Shaky hand today I guess." I shrugged, and looked pointedly at the large brown stain on the front of his pants. "Was it hot?"

"WAS IT HOT?" he shouted, falling to his knees. Luke was trying to calm the group down and I could see he was holding his laughter in.

"That was my question, yes. I'm glad you're hearing's not impaired. Although some other functions may be." Gods, I was so funny in desperate situations. I should get a medal. I could escape right now if I wanted-the whole room would be to busy laughing to run after me.

"Trish, Ren, take Joey to the infirmary." He turned to the boy on the floor, who was nearly in tears. "I said not to retort in violence and you disobeyed my orders. You got what you deserved. And a little more for insubordination." The boy was dragged from the room. The remaining people were still teetering on the edge of laughter again.

"Can I get more of this?" I asked him, gesturing to the empty cup. Luke rolled his eyes and left, mumbling something about 'sleeping like the dead.' I smirked at the thought of irritating him. The small group all left, save the nymph, who re-wrapped my hand and made me eat all the breakfast on the tray. I then showered, brushed my hair into a long ponytail, and put on my new "uniform." As I waited for the soldiers to come back, I paced the room in long strides and ate the roll, carrots, strawberries, and bacon that was my breakfast- all the while thinking over my situation. I organized it into two lists.

"Things Alex Can Do" and Things Alex Can't Do."

"Things Alex Can Do"

1. Pretend to be on Luke's side.

2. Lie successfully to Luke.

3. Gather information for Chiron and the campers.

4. Delay Kronos's rising by not taking the vow.

5. Warn demigods of their impending doom.

6. Save said endangered demigods.

7. Free imprisoned half-bloods and creatures to fight against Titan army.

8. Run away inside Labyrinth.

Relatively simple list. I continued pacing, thinking of my other list.

"Things Alex Can't Do"

1. Lie to gods or Titans.

2. Kill Kronos or Luke.

3. Get back to Camp.

4. Find Jason.

5. Find Percy, Grover, Tyson, Annabeth, and Daedalus.

6. Stop invasion by myself.

7. Escape mountain.

8. Take back Kronos's power.

9. Break curse.

10. Find out who this 'Patron' is.

11. Escape Kronos's Army before they leave for Labyrinth.

Obviously, my "Can't Do" list was longer than my other one. I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts and I, once again, thought about Percy. He wouldn't forget about me! He knows I would kill him if he did. You may say, Oh, Alex, isn't that a bit extreme? Nope, that's how I am. I'm rough around the edges.

Maybe that's what's wrong with me. Maybe Percy wants a pretty girl that's shiny and girly and sparkly.

I could be like that, if I tried.

I thought for another twenty minutes until a knock sounded on my door. I jumped a bit, since I wasn't expecting it. A girl dressed in armor like me entered the room. A few years younger than me, she looked really familiar.

"The General says it's time to leave. I'm to bring you to the vanguard."

I sighed and exited the small room. "Do I know you?" She led me through the twisting tunnels of the mountain, waiting a long while before answering.

"I was two grades below you when you went to Fellmont. My homeroom teacher was Halford, the one who gave you all the detentions. My name's Connie…"

"Oh, yeah, you were the one who I clapped erasers with that one time!" I said, my memory coming back. "Do you remember his face when we ended up getting the powder all over his desk instead?"

"Yeah," the girl laughed as we turned tunnels and corners. "It looked like he had even more dandruff on his desk than usual!"

"Best day ever!" I laughed. It was really nice to talk to someone friendly, young, and mostly non-evil. "Totally worth the detention!" As we approached the wall, pushing through the shouting demigods and roaring monsters, we saw that they were getting somewhat organized in formations. Banshees, hell's alarm clock, were lining up in rows, directed by demigods. Dracaena formed ordered platoons and demigods formed large groups in which shouts and laughter were heard. Pushing and jabbing at the crowd around her, Connie was having a difficult time getting through the crowd.

"OI! MOVE!" I shouted. The conversations in the immediate area were silenced and the monsters around us cleared a small path. They stared at us. "Well. I realize I'm incredibly attractive, but that's no excuse to stare. Go back to your business." I said as we charged through the fray and up into the front of the army. Luke and a small group of demigods, dracaena, empousi, and Telekhines were crowded in front of the wall. Connie motioned for us to halt and she started to bow low.

"My Lord, I have-" she began.

"The fun has arrived, thank you very much!" I sang loudly, making several teenagers jump. Luke turned toward us, nodded at Connie, signaling that she was dismissed, and motioned me over to the group. Connie left with a small smile at me, and then I was alone. I walked up to Luke, who was gesturing to several large maps.

"We should be able to meet up here. Then we can continue to move through the Labyrinth and into the arena, where we can move to attack the camp." Luke had pointed to several tunnels on the map as he spoke, and all of them converged. That was the problem.

"It won't work." I said, leaning against the small table on which the maps rested. They all turned to me and Luke frowned, like I was an annoyance.

"I hope you have an ingenious reason for interrupting me, Alex. I'm the General of this army, and your commanding officer. I get the plans directly from Kronos."

"Well, Commanding Officer, it won't work. The Labyrinth will have gone out of its way to change directions. It doesn't want to help you."

"And you would know this how?" sneered a boy. He was about my age, with curly brown hair. "You talk like the Labyrinth has a mind. Like it has feelings or a consciousness. How could you possibly understand what we can't?"

"Well, Prissy, I don't claim to understand it. I'm just looking at it like a creator would."

Luke's eyebrows raised and he smirked. "So, what would you suggest, Lieutenant Nexumbra?"

I rolled my eyes and grabbed a few of the maps. "Daedalus is an inventor, right? Well, he and the Labyrinth must have an understanding. I think that it has a consciousness. It's not sentient, it can't think for itself." I said as I saw the boy across from me opened his mouth to interrupt.

"On what grounds do you base these assumptions, mortal?" hissed a dracaena.

"Well, considering that Daedalus is an insane inventor, he would create something that he could control and manipulate. The Labyrinth has to move and get people lost. That's it's purpose. It's what its there for. So it will change to purposely get you lost. I suggest you go the exact opposite of where you want to go."

An empousa slammed her fist on the table. "Mortal child, are you as foolish as you seem? You cannot think this will work. This Labyrinth changes at intervals. It is not sentient. The inventor does not control it. It is simply there."

"Think about this." I bent over the table, grabbing pens and charts. A chart I picked up showed a plotted course in red, and the one they had to take in blue. "In this voyage you took you plotted this course and followed it. You took around…five detours total. It you had done the exact opposite of what you wanted to do you would have only needed to take…two. You would have arrived much faster and with less casualties."

Several other demigods and monsters picked up charts and examined their routes. Whispers broke out. Had it really never occurred to them that the giant Labyrinth was somewhat alive? It had to change. Dead things don't change. Inanimate things don't change. Therefore, the Labyrinth was somewhat alive.

"The insane girl is right! Over all, the course we take will be easier and faster by going backwards!" Telekhines are rude, but I'm glad this particular one sided with me.

Luke himself grabbed maps and checked if I was right. A minute later, he threw them down in disgust. "We have some of the brightest minds of the army in this group and none of you saw this? A newcomer shows up and she shows us the faster way we've been searching for for weeks? Get out of my sight, all of you! Organize your troops, we leave in five minutes." He ran a hand down the side of his face and stared at the maps.

A long silence followed. I of course, broke it.

"You must feel like an idiot."

He glared, and sighed at the table.

"I bet your going to go prematurely gray. You look stressed."

"Shut up." he said. "You're coming with my group. I'm going to meet up, grab my prize, and then head to camp. If you slow us down or kill someone or throw coffee at anyone again, your in a cell until the war is over."

"I just told you a somewhat-easier way to get through the Labyrinth and you think I'm gonna slow you down? Ingrate."

He faced me and gave me a Shut-up-or-I-will-kill-you glare. I complied with his wishes of shutting up. "We are going to visit the troops and I will give a speech. Then we'll move out." He turned and started walking back to the army.

"OOOH! Can I give a speech! I promise it will be really scary and evil and inspiring!" I love telling people what to do. Plus, I really wanted to see the monsters squirm.

Luke sighed and glanced at me. "Fine. It has to be short."

"YES!" I leapt into the air triumphantly. "Hurry up, hurry up. I wanna talk!" The two of us quickly approached a hi ledge, which opened up to a large cavern under the mountain. Coming down the tunnel, it had seemed that I had only seen a third of the Titan army. Crap, Camp didn't stand a chance against Kronos.

Luke's speech was boring. It was all about the greatness of Kronos and about the weakness of Camp. The gods' selfishness was a big part of it, too. He also said that anyone who deserted or ran or blah, blah, blah would be in trouble. But I digress.

What I'm trying to say is that my speech was better. It was short, sweet, and to the point. When I stepped up to the edge, all the monsters visibly shuddered. I grinned widely and spoke.

"If you don't do what I say, follow orders, and beat the enemy, I will unscrew your head and drop wishing pennies down your throats. Thank you."

I have a gift for public speaking, right? Luke thought so, too. As we were walking back to the entrance-past the cavern and through the tunnel-he was grinning like a madman. But I suppose I have that effect on boys. Anyway, Luke called his vanguard and pressed his hand to the wall. The mark of Daedalus glowed blue, and the bricks crumbled away to reveal a familiar dark tunnel. Back into the Labyrinth we marched, me at Luke's side, leading the army that had set out to destroy everything I believed in.

Hopefully I could escape.

I know, I know, boring crap. I promise we'll pick things back up next chapter when they get to the arena.

Who's in character, who's not? Does Alex sound to goofy? Is Luke evil? Fatal flaws? Good pet names? Anything you hate? Love? Wanna kill me? Wanna marry me? Percy and Calypso are still at the island, but they'll be reunited with Alex soon, I promise.

I'm planning on doing a camp-wide volleyball tournament toward the end of the Labyrinth book, who should be on what team? Alex and percy must team up with other cabins, so what cabins should they join? Alex and Aphrodite? I mean, those girls have to be good at something, right? Why not Beach volleyball? Anyway, the votes will be open until the end, so leave a review with your preferance.

I love you all and hope your school year starts with a bang! Thanks for stickin' with the story and complain to me about you problems!

REVIEW!

Love and tickles,

Neela SilverDust